Toucher & Rich: Jeff Howe On NFL Free Agency

Jabar Gaffney #10 of the Washington Redskins attempts to pull in a pass against Richard Sherman #25of the Seattle Seahawks on November 27, 2011 at CenturyLink Field in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)

NFL free agency started at 4pm on Tuesday and there have been quite a few moves already. The Patriots have been quite so far, but it is still early.

The Washington Redskins locked up wide receivers Pierre Garcon and Eddie Royal in the first day of free agency and they could look to deal Jabar Gaffney.

Gaffney knows the system in New England, does Howe think that Gaffney could be an option for the Pats?

“I think it’s a definite possibility. He’s on the books for about $2.5 million in 2012. Whether the Redskins want to try and trade him for like a fifth, sixth or seventh round pick, or just outright release him and let him go wherever he wants.”

Reports are that wide receiver Brandon Lloyd is meeting with the San Francisco 49ers. Does this hurt New England’s chances of signing him?

“I honestly think it starts with Bill Belichick and whether or not he really wants to mend that broken fence that he’s had with Tom Condon for the better part of a decade. If Bill Belichick wants Brandon Lloyd, Brandon Lloyd has made his own campaign for a little while now to say that he wants to play with Josh McDaniels and it makes all the sense in the world.”

The Patriots placed the franchise tag on Wes Welker before the start of free agency. How does this move affect the Pats long term in trying to lock him up?

“It doesn’t help that’s for sure. I think after seeing Pierre Garcon’s insanely ridiculous contract that the market favors Welker right now. I don’t know why the Patriots are playing around with this thing the way that they are.”

There are reports out there that there are two mystery teams looking at BenJarvus Green-Ellis. Have we seen the last of BenJarvus in a Patriots uniform?

“It’s starting to sound like that and I can’t really blame the Patriots for letting him walk for starting money.”